Given all the conversation yesterday, it’s worth reminding people of a fun football fact they may be unaware of: Devout Catholic and legendary #NFL coach Vince Lombardi ran a homophobia free locker room, most notably during his time in Washington.

Lombardi had a gay brother and was shockingly accepting for a terse old coach. He coached at least three gay players in Washington, his assistant GM was also gay, as was his PR director & right hand man. He threatened any coach who questioned their manhood with firing.

Lombardi knew each player was gay and actively protected them. The man wasn’t perfect but most teams are still 50 years behind him. The biggest icon in the most macho of sports was an ally and we should all follow suit.

And btw, one of those gay players, TE Jerry Smith, should definitely be in the HOF. 60 career TDs was the most by a TE until Shannon Sharpe broke it by one 26 years later in 20 more games. He’s still 8th all-time. He died of AIDS in 86 and the stigma likely kept him out of Canton